Integumentary system Flashcards
What does the integumentary system contain?
Skin
Hair
Fingernails
Toenails
What is the largest organ of the body and what percentage of the body does it take up?
Skin
15%
Name the three layers of the skin and what the functions are?
Epidermis- Stratified squamous epithelium
Dermis- Connective tissue layer (part processed for leather
Hypodermis- Rich blood supply and fat layer
What are the types of epithelium?
Stratified, keratinous (prevents water loss) Continous epithelium (no breaks in skin)
What is the pigments in skin?
Melanin
What are the proteins in skin?
Collagen
Elastin
What are the sensory perception in skin?
Receptors
What allows the skin to regulate blood temperature?
Blood flow, hair follicles and sweat glands, fat
What are the functions of the skin?
Protection against: Mechanical abrasion Water loss Micro-organisms UV Stretching
Conveying information
Temperature regulation
What are some common cancer diseases of the skin?
Skin cancer:
Basal cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Malignant melanoma
How does basal cell carcinoma arise?
Arises from the stratum basal and invades the dermis
How does squamous cell carcinoma arise?
Arises from keratinocytes in the stratum spinosum
Metastasis to the lymph nodes can be lethal
How does malignant melanoma arise?
Arises from melanocytes of a pre-existing mole
ABCD-Asymmetry, Border irregular, Colour mixed, Diameter over 6mm
What are common diseases of the skin?
Acne vulgaris
Decubitus Ulcers (bed sores)
Warts
What are causes of burns?
Hot water Sunlight Radiation Electricity Acids/bases
How can burns become fatal?
Fluid loss
Infection
Effects of Eschar (dead tissue0
How are burns characterised?
What are their characteristics?
Superficial- Only epidermis involved (red, painful and swelling)
Partial thickness- Epidermis and part of the dermis involved with blistering. The epidermis will regenerate hair follicles and sweat glands
Full thickness- Epidermis, drmis and more is destroyed. This will often require skin grafts or fibrosis and disfigurement may occur
Why wont a patient who faces a severe burn not be in pain?
This may be due to the fact nerve tissue is damaged including sensory receptors, therefore cant feel pain
What are the types of treatments given for a severe burn (full thickness burn)?
Autograft
Isograft
Cultured kerantinocyte patches
What is an autograft?
Tissue from a different region of the patients own body
What is an isograft?
Tissue grafted from an identical twin
What are some temporary graft options?
Homograft (Allograft)- Graft from an unrelated patient
Heterograft (Xenograft)- Tissue from another species
Amnion of an afterbirth
Artificial skin from silicone and collagen
3D bioprinting
What is the benefit of an isograft?
Body wont reject as it is from an identical twin
Why is temperory graft options temporary?
The patient would have to be on immunosuppressent therapy fro life to prevent rejection
What are skin creases/cleavage lines caused by?
Caused in part by the orientation of collagen in the dermis
State the length of healing time for skin if cut along or across the cleavage line
Along- heals rapidly
Across- heals slowly
What are epidermal ridges, how do they arise and what is an example?
Folds in the outer layer of the skin
Arise during embryonic development as a mean of gripping items
Fingerprints
What is pigmentation?
How the skin carries colour
How does the vascular system pigment the skin?
The blood vessels in your skin carry heamoglobin which has a red colouration.
Visible through the dermal collagen fibres
What are the two pigments in the skin and their characteristics?
Carotene- Yellow pigment
Melanin- Brown,red pigment
Where is carotene concentrated?
Concentrated in the stratum corneum and subcutaneous fat
How is melanin produced?
Produced by melanocytes
Synthesis stimulated by UV radiation from sunlight
How are yellow/red and brown/black melanin pigments caused?
Yellow/red- Pheomelanin
Black/brown- Eumelanin
How does albinism arise?
Lack of pigmentation production
What are the abnormal pigmentations?
Cyanosis Erythema Jaundice Pallor Albinism Hemotoma
How do the abnormal pigmentations arise in cyanosis?
Blueness resulting from defiance of oxygen in the circulating blood (cold weather)
How do the abnormal pigmentations arise in erythema?
Redness due to dilated cutaneous vessels (anger, sunburn, embarrassment)
How do the abnormal pigmentations arise in jaundice?
Yellowing of the skin and sclera due to excess bilirubin in blood (liver disease)
How do the abnormal pigmentations arise in pallor?
Pale colour from lack of blood flow
How do the abnormal pigmentations arise in alinism?
Genetic lack of melanin
How do the abnormal pigmentations arise in hematoma?
Bruise (visible clotted blood)
What aspects of the integumentary system can be used for identification?
Fingerprints
Vein pattern analysis
Knuckle creases
Scars
